Roger Federer Life Lessons

Three Valuable Life Lessons We Can Learn From Roger Federer's Cracking Start To 2017

PrintAscher Robbins

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Better Living Through Roger Federer

To anyone whose occupation isn’t a ball sport, professional athletes are heroes. For between one and two decades, these figures have a huge influence over our lives: they astound us, disappoint us, inspire us, reduce us to tears, incite arguments, forge friendships, make us get up early, make us stay up late, win us cash, lose us cash, and make us buy shoes.

And then they retire. And a part of our soul dims.

Roger Federer turns 36 in August, which is not old for a human being, but in the sporting arena it’s when your name gets sandwiched between words like “former world number one” and “retirement” and “final chapter” and “oldest player to” – your epitaph is being written while you’re mid-volley.

In 2017, following a six-month injury lay-off, Federer has three big titles to his name and just one loss (to a qualifier, which usually happens once or twice a year to all the top players). He’s defeated longtime rival and fellow racquet-god Rafael Nadal three times in a row. He won the Australian Open – his first Slam triumph in almost five years and his 18th Major overall. He claimed the Indian Wells-Miami double, something only he, Novak Djokovic, and Steffi Graf have done multiple times.

As he continues a powerhouse 19th year on the pro tour, here are some life lessons you can take from Federer's scintillating start to 2017.

Work-Life Balance

The ubiquity of people championing work-life balance and flexibility is nothing new, but us non-athletes don’t have a ranking beside our names and just four chances to prove our worth annually. With three months of beast mode play under his headband, Federer won’t compete again until the French Open in late-May, opting to relax instead. In 2017, he seems at his most chill, career-wise. Despite being world number four, he’s blasé about rankings now and more focused on Slams and fam (he’s father to two sets of twins). He was even excelsior about being sidelined for six months, saying it was a period that left him “refreshed, rejuvenated” and assisted him in the longer term both mentally and physically. In other words, if you’ve been hitting your KPIs, book that trip to Playa Del Carmen.

Strike First

As athletes age, it’s unusual to see them become more aggressive and confident. Stranger still is to see that aggression and confidence pay dividends. After his five-set win over Nadal in Melbourne, Federer said, “I told myself to play free. That's what we discussed with [coaches] Ivan and Severin before the matches. You play the ball, you don't play the opponent. Be free in your head, be free in your shots, go for it. The brave will be rewarded here.” This season he’s been striking his backhand like he’s made from half-Gatorade, half-MDMA and targeting his opponents’ strengths, taunting them to match his level. Obviously, he’s trying to teach us something about dating here. Beautiful lady at the bar? You’re beautiful, too. In fact, you’re the GOAT of looking good.

Don’t play the opponent… be free in your head… go for it… the brave will be rewarded here. Of course, aggression and confidence means an increase in unforced errors, but it also means more winners, hot stuff!

Fun Is Vital

At a time when other players of a certain age would be getting their affairs in order, Roger Federer is producing groundstroke porn and hitting returns that are readymade GIFs. Prior to the Miami Open he said, “I’m feeling too good on the court and I’m having too much fun. Winning creates a lot of good energy.” Winning makes everything better, no doubt, but this is a guy who makes his own fun: goofy selfies, an emoji-enthusiast, and he even started a parody boy band with fellow ATP bros Grigor Dimitrov and Tommy Haas. While you may not have nine-figures in prize money, that doesn’t mean you can’t bring the levity. It won’t give you a forehand that makes grown men question what karmic debt they incurred to be subjected to such punishment, though regular laughs do boost the immune system and burn calories, so that’s a small win.